Zverev powers into 4th round

MELBOURNE: German gun Alexander Zverev is into the Australian Open fourth round after cruising past Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in straight sets.

Zverev, a semifinalist last year, made light work of Mannarino in a 63, 63, 61 trouncing.

The sixth seed has now reeled off nine consecutive sets since surprisingly dropping his first of the tournament to American world No 75 Marcos Giron in a tiebreak.

Earlier, Pablo Carreno Busta’s forced retirement through illness handed Grigor Dimitrov smooth passage to the fourth round.

The 18th seed led 60, 10 when Carreno Busta called an end to the match.

Dimitrov is yet to drop a set in the year’s first grand slam, having blasted his way past Croatian Marin Cilic and Australian Alex Bolt in his opening two matches.

Carreno Busta racked up 20 unforced errors in dropping seven straight games and took a medical timeout between sets before withdrawing 38 minutes into the match.

‘‘The beginning of the match was very crucial for me, especially the first four games were very, very important,’’ Dimitrov said.

‘‘Tough conditions. Obviously the sun was coming out a little bit. It was heating up.’’

In the women’s draw, Serena Williams faces a litmus test after shifting into survival mode to make it through the first week at Melbourne Park for a mindboggling 16th time.

The seventime champion overcame a shaky start to beat Russian teenager Anastasia Potapova 76 (75), 62 yesterday.

Up against a player half her age, Williams (39) had to recover from 53 down and save two set points in the first set before prevailing over the former Wimbledon junior champion.

‘‘It definitely feels good to be in the fourth round and it’s so good to get through that match,’’ the 10th seed said.

‘‘The first set was extremely tight. I was a little tight, but it worked out. I was able to play a little more free in the second set.

‘‘It’s about surviving and playing better every round.’’

Japanese powerhouse Naomi Osaka is into the fourth round after sweeping Tunisian Ons Jabeur in straight sets.

Osaka, the 2019 champion, will meet 2020 finalist Garbine Murguruza in the first heavyweight clash of the open, with neither multiple major winner dropping a set en route to the last 16 at Melbourne Park.

Murguruza, the 14th seed, earlier stormed past Zarina Diyas, of Kazahkstan, 61, 61 and has dropped only 10 games all tournament.

Inform Belarusian Aryna

Sabalenka set up mouthwatering meeting with Williams after also surging into the fourth round.

Sabalenka, the seventh seed, was in charge on Rod Laver Arena from the first serve, winning 63, 61 over American Ann Li.

World No 1 Ash Barty withdrew from the doubles yesterday, raising concerns over her fitness for the singles as she manages a thigh strain.

Barty played with her left thigh heavily strapped in her second round win over fellow Australian Daria Gavrilova but downplayed the injury on Thursday, saying she was ‘‘fit as a fiddle.’’

Top seed Barty, who made the semifinals last year, is bidding to end Australia's 43year wait for a home winner at the grand slam. — AAP